Agra India

Agra, along with Delhi and Jaipur forms a golden triangle, the most famous and popular tourist route in India. In the 16-17 century, Agra was the place of location of the rulers of the Mughal dynasty, until the capital was not moved to Delhi.

The city has a number of interesting attractions. But above all, the Taj Mahal of Agra is known, call one of the many wonders of the world. Another significant historical monument is the Red Fort of Agra. That these two places I visited in Agra during his trip to India in winter 2012.

Agra pictures - Red Fort and the Taj Mahal

Red Fort of Agra

Red Fort of Agra. The fort was built in 1565, surrounded by 20-meter walls. The fortress is one of the symbols of the power and grandeur of the great Mughal Empire.

Entrance gate of the fort.

Jahangir Mahal is the most prominent building in the complex, as well as a fort built of red sandstone.

Jahangir Mahal is made up of buildings, galleries, courtyards and underground prisons. The palace was the main harem.

Diwan-i-Am was built by Shah Jahan - the ruler of the world, and was the hall of public audience.

Khas Mahal - Imperial apartments, including bedroom, living room and a room for prayer. The prayer hall and a bedroom separated by a carved lattice in the form of scales of justice and a crescent with stars.

The tomb of John. R. Calvin. John Russell Calvin governor of the North West Province, who died here during the Sepoy Rebellion in the years 1857-1859 against the British colonialists.

On the territory of the fort inhabited by a large number of chipmunks.

Squirrels are so used to tourists that can easily eat out of their hands as in this case.

Taj Mahal Photos

Entrance gate of the Taj Mahal.

In the afternoon at the Taj Mahal huge number of tourists. Indians even more than foreigners. long queues lined up to view. And this is the case when I did not regret that he took a guide. He walked me to bypass all the queues. It turns out that the inspection of foreigners out of the lineup. Not for nothing do we pay for a ticket is ten times more local.

The complex of the Taj Mahal was built by the Mongol Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz, who died soon after the birth of 14 children. Taj was built during the 12 years from 1631 to 1638

The construction of the mausoleum was attended by over 20,000 people. For a long time the creation of the Taj Mahal, considered the highest in India 74 meters.

I tear on the cheek of eternity, called Taj Mahal Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The mausoleum is surrounded by four minarets, which are slightly tilted to the side, that would be in the event of an earthquake not fall on him.

The height of each minaret is 40 meters. Each minaret is divided into three parts, with two balconies.

On the left side of the mausoleum is a mosque, built of red sandstone. On the right is the same building, it is believed that it was built for symmetry, but perhaps used as a guest house. The construction of these facilities was completed in 1643.

All the decorative elements of minarets decorated with gold leaf.

Many unfortunate lovers were dropped from the minarets of the Taj. Following these cases, they were closed to the public.

View of the entrance gate from the Taj Mahal.

The outer wall of the complex.

Taj Mahal - east side.

Some historians believe that if at the beginning of the construction of Shah Jahan moved infinite love and the bitterness of the loss of his wife. That later as the realization of such an ambitious project led by the Emperor ambition and vanity.